Nathan Lane

Actor, Singer, Writer

American Jersey City, New Jersey, U.S.

Quick Info

ProfessionActor, Singer, Writer
NationalityAmerican
Date of Birth03/02/1956
Age70 years
BirthplaceJersey City, New Jersey, U.S.

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Bio/Wiki

Full NameJoseph Lane (born name)
Stage NameNathan Lane
OverviewVersatile American actor known for work in musical comedies on stage and screen. Recipient of three Tony Awards, seven Drama Desk Awards, a Laurence Olivier Award, three Emmy Awards, and a Screen Actors Guild Award. Inducted into American Theatre Hall of Fame in 2008 and awarded Hollywood Walk of Fame star in 2006.

Educational Qualification(s)

High SchoolSt. Peter's Preparatory High School, Jersey City (Jesuit-run; selected Best Actor in 1974)

Personal Life

Religious BackgroundIrish American Catholic
Name OriginNamed after his uncle, a Jesuit priest
SexualityGay (came out publicly in 1999)

Family

ParentsIrish American Catholic parents

Career

Broadway Debut1982 in revival of Noel Coward's Present Laughter
Early CareerStand-up comedy with partner Patrick Stack; off-Broadway productions at Second Stage Theatre, Roundabout Theatre, Manhattan Theatre Club
Notable Stage Roles
  • Pseudolus in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (Tony Award)
  • Max Bialystock in The Producers (Tony Award, Drama Desk Award, Olivier Award)
  • Nathan Detroit in Guys and Dolls
  • Roland Maule in Present Laughter (1982 Broadway debut)
Notable Film Roles
  • Albert in The Birdcage (1996)
  • Ernie Smuntz in MouseHunt
  • Voice of Timon in The Lion King (1994)
  • Voice work in Stuart Little
  • Beau is Afraid (2023)
  • Dicks: The Musical (2023)
Notable Television Roles
  • Modern Family
  • The Good Wife
  • The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story
  • Sex and the City
  • Curb Your Enthusiasm
  • 30 Rock
  • Only Murders in the Building (Teddy Dimas; Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series, 2022)
Other WorkWrote libretto and starred in Stephen Sondheim's adaptation of Aristophanes' The Frogs (2006)

Some Lesser Known Facts

1. The New York Times hailed him as the greatest stage entertainer of the decade in 2010
2. Career breakthrough came after The Birdcage in 1996
3. Received the GLAAD Vito Russo Award in 2002 for outstanding contribution in combating homophobia
Information on this page is collected from public sources and may not be 100% accurate. Report an error
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